Few within government would deny that evidence-based policy-making is important to achieving good outcomes. Australia’s history provides ample support for that. But it is also apparent that practice over the past decade has fallen short of the ideals espoused.

This paper provides a summary of an online survey experiment that tested the level of support, and factors associated with support, for policy trials, and RCTs in particular. The research found that about half the population supported a trial for a (hypothetical) policy intervention, as opposed to introducing the policy to everyone at once.

Governments aren’t doing the research needed to underpin rigorous policy development, worries Grattan Institute CEO, John Daley.

This report presents findings from the first ever quantitative survey on kindness in communities and public services. The data reveals a reassuring and yet complex picture of kindness in the UK and Ireland, with generally high levels of kindness reported, but at the same time variations in experiences between jurisdictions and across social groups.

Australia needs to fundamentally reframe its policy approach. Ad hoc and set-and-forget approaches to policy will not deliver what we need in the future.